Dopamine and Reward Cycle

Dopamine Release

• Dopamine is associated with pleasure and reward.
• When we experience something pleasurable, our brain releases dopamine, leading to a "dopamine hit."

Dopamine Crash

• After the initial dopamine release, the levels start to decline.
• This decline can lead to a "crash," where we feel a decrease in pleasure or even negative emotions.

Seeking Reward

• Following the crash, we start seeking activities or stimuli that will give us another dopamine release.
• Even when returning to a baseline state, the desire for reward is present, driving us to seek further stimulation.

Social Media Example

• Scrolling through social media platforms like Instagram can be a good example of the dopamine cycle.
• Initially, interesting content leads to a dopamine release and continued scrolling.
• As less interesting content is encountered, the level of pleasure decreases, and the desire to stop arises.
• The desire for another dopamine hit will make you scroll again.